The Diamond Slipper Read Online Free PDF Page A

perfectly reasonable question and that she was only peripherally interested in the answer.
    “Prince Michael was married to the viscount’s sister,” the empress told her. “Unfortunately, she died some years ago, leaving twin daughters, I believe.”
    But he could be married to someone else
. Why could she not get Viscount Kierston out of her head? What possible difference could it make to her, whether he was married or not? Cordelia took herself to task, but her self-reproof seemed to lack conviction.
    “Oh, then you’re to be a mama immediately!” Toinette exclaimed, doing a little pirouette. “Shall you like it, Cordelia?”
    Another thing no one had thought to tell her, Cordelia reflected, startled by this information. How could she tell whether she would be able to mother two unknown little girls? She wasn’t ready to be a mother to anyone, she was only just beginning to try her own wings. “I hope so,” she said, knowing it to be the only answer acceptable to the empress.
    “You must pin the miniature to your dress,” Toinette said. “Like mine.” She gestured to the portrait of the dauphin that she now wore. Deftly, she fastened the prince’s miniature to Cordelia’s muslin bodice. She stood back, examining her handiwork, then gave a little nod of satisfaction. “Now you’re properly betrothed, just as I am.”
    “Well, run along now. You must dress for the balltonight,” Maria Theresa instructed with another fond smile. “You will both look so beautiful … two exquisite brides.” She patted the fair head and the dark, then kissed them both. “Leave me now. I have some papers to read before dinner.”
    Toinette linked arms with Cordelia and danced her out of the imperial presence. “It’s so exciting,” she burbled. “I’m so happy. I was so afraid, although I didn’t dare admit it, but now I’m not at all frightened about going. We shall take Versailles by storm, and everyone will fall at the feet of the two beautiful brides from Vienna.” Laughing, she released Cordelia’s arm and twirled away down the corridor. Cordelia’s head was too full of her own turmoil to be able to enter the spirit of Toinette’s exuberance, and she followed more slowly.
    “Cordelia!”
Christian grabbed her arm as she passed the embrasure. He jerked her into the small space. “What’s going on? What’s happening? Who was that man you were with in the gallery?”
    Cordelia glanced over her shoulder. A majordomo had appeared around the corner of the corridor and was making his self-important way toward the empress’s door. “I’m to be married,” she whispered. “And the man was Viscount Kierston; he’s to be my proxy husband. But we can’t talk here. Come to the orangery—the usual place—at midnight. I’ll be able to slip away from the ball then. I’ve had an absolutely brilliant idea that’ll solve all your problems.”
    She put a finger on his lips when it looked as if he was about to protest, then darted another glance at the approaching majordomo before swiftly jumping on her toes and kissing his cheek. Then she slipped away, walking sedately down the corridor. Christian heard her polite greeting to the official as he waited for the man to pass before leaving the embrasure himself.
    Cordelia was always full of brilliant ideas, but how could her getting married and presumably leaving Vienna solveany of
his
problems? It would simply mean that he would lose his best friend.
    The gala reception that began the week of festivities to celebrate the archduchess’s marriage to the dauphin of France was held in the Great Gallery. The high windows were opened to the expanse of torchlit gardens beneath, where colored fountains played, their delicate cascades reflected in the gold-framed crystal mirrors of the gallery.
    Cordelia kept her eye on the clock even when she was whirled down the line of dance by hot young men in powdered wigs, their rouge running under the exertions of the dance and the